U.S. patent application number 10/758145 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-14 for pouch having expanded polymer edges.
Invention is credited to Versluys, Robert Thor.
Application Number | 20050152624 10/758145 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34740120 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050152624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Versluys, Robert Thor |
July 14, 2005 |
Pouch having expanded polymer edges
Abstract
A heat sealed pouch with tactile friendly edges is provided from
the expansion of an expandable polymer, triggered either during the
heat sealing process or subsequent to the heat sealing process. The
pouch consists of two adjacent panels which are sealed along at
least one edge.
Inventors: |
Versluys, Robert Thor;
(Florence, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas J. Durling
DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP
One Logan Square
18th & Cherry Streets
Philadelphia
PA
19103-6996
US
|
Family ID: |
34740120 |
Appl. No.: |
10/758145 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/107 ;
383/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 44/1271 20130101;
B29C 66/328 20130101; B29C 66/81417 20130101; B31B 70/64 20170801;
B29C 66/43 20130101; B29C 66/71 20130101; B29C 65/02 20130101; B29K
2105/048 20130101; B65D 75/008 20130101; B29C 66/727 20130101; B29C
66/80 20130101; B29C 66/81427 20130101; B29C 66/8322 20130101; B29K
2067/00 20130101; B29L 2009/00 20130101; B31B 70/008 20170801; B29C
2795/002 20130101; B29C 66/71 20130101; B29C 2035/0877 20130101;
B31B 2160/10 20170801; B29K 2067/003 20130101; B29C 66/1122
20130101; B29C 2035/0855 20130101; B31B 70/00 20170801; B29C 66/723
20130101; B29C 66/034 20130101; B29L 2031/7128 20130101; B65D 33/00
20130101; B31B 2155/00 20170801; B29C 66/301 20130101; B31B
2155/002 20170801 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/107 ;
383/104 |
International
Class: |
B65D 030/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pouch comprising: a front layer and a back layer; an
expandable polymer positioned between the two layers; and a seam
joining together at least one edge of the two layers; the
expandable polymer in an expanded state forming a bead along the
seam.
2. The pouch of claim 1 wherein the expandable polymer bead is
formed along three seams.
3. The pouch of claim 1 wherein the expandable polymer is a heat
activated polymer.
4. The pouch of claim 3 wherein the expandable polymer is a
plastisol based ink.
5. The pouch of claim 3 wherein the expandable polymer is a heat
activated puff ink.
6. The pouch in claim 1 wherein the expandable polymer is triggered
to expand by radio frequency.
7. The pouch of claim 1 further comprising a gusset panel secured
to the front and rear layers to form a gusseted stand-up pouch.
8. A pouch comprising: a front panel, a back panel and a bottom
gusset; the front panel, the back panel and the bottom gusset each
having a plurality of laminate layers; an expandable polymer
positioned between two of the laminate layers in at least one of
the panels and the bottom gusset, or in both the front panel and
the back panel; a seam joining together at least one edge of the
front panel with at least one edge of the back panel, a seam
joining together at least one edge of the front panel with at least
one edge of the bottom gusset, or a seam joining together at least
one edge of the back panel with at least one edge of the bottom
gusset; and the expandable polymer in an expanded state forming a
bead along the joined seam.
9. The pouch of claim 8 wherein the expandable polymer is a heat
activated polymer.
10. The pouch of claim 9 wherein the expandable polymer is a
plastisol based ink.
11. The pouch of claim 9 wherein the expandable polymer is a heat
activated puff ink.
12. The pouch in claim 8 wherein the expandable polymer is
triggered to expand by the application of electron beams,
microwaves, or the like.
13. A multi-layered stand-up pouch comprising: a pair of opposed
side wall panels joined to each other about the periphery thereof;
an expandable polymer in an expanded state forming a bead along the
joined periphery.
14. The pouch of claim 13 wherein expandable polymer is a heat
activated polymer.
15. The pouch of claim 13 wherein the expandable polymer is a
plastisol based ink.
16. The pouch of claim 13 wherein the expandable polymer is a heat
activated puff ink.
17. A method of making a heat sealed pouch, comprising the steps
of: positioning the expandable polymer between two pouch panel
layers; placing the front panel and the back panel together into a
sealing jaws; the sealing jaws heat sealing the front panel and
back panel together along at least one edge; and activating and
expanding the expandable polymer outwardly along the at least one
edge.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the sealing jaws are chamfered
on the outer edge to direct the expandable polymer outwardly during
heat sealing and heat activation.
19. The pouch of claim 17 wherein the expandable polymer is a
plastisol based ink.
20. The pouch of claim 17 wherein the expandable polymer is a heat
activated puff ink.
21. A method of claim 17 wherein the expandable polymer is
triggered to expand by electron beams, microwaves, or the like.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to flexible
packaging in the form of pouches and methods of making pouches.
Specifically the invention relates to flexible pouches with an
improved edge configuration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Flexible pouch type packaging is typically created by heat
sealing two adjacent plys of thermoplastic material along an outer
perimeter edge.
[0003] Using current heat sealing technology, flexible pouches are
sometimes formed having relatively sharp edges. The edges may
particularly be sharp when the pouch construction includes
heavy-gauge oriented polymers and/or foil. Sharp edges may make the
pouches difficult to handle for the manufacturer as well as the
consumer. In some situations, the manufacturer is required to
package the pouches within secondary packaging to prevent the edges
from cutting or scaring other packages during shipment. The
application of this secondary packaging is time consuming and adds
cost, as well as may reduce the number of pouches that can be
shipped in a given package.
[0004] There are a number of known methods of heat sealing pouch
seams. U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,527 to Struden discloses a manner of
heat sealing of a seam by passing the material between heated jaws
having a planar surface for contacting the layers. The resulting
seam is a flat, fin-type seam of two layers. U.S. Pat. No.
4,868,025 to Strzelewicz discloses a manner of heat sealing a seam
by passing the material between jaws specially designed to produce
a zone of fused materials, forming a seamed edge on the bag.
[0005] It is also known to use heat activated puff ink in a variety
of contexts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,320 to Kapolas discloses a closure
for a rigid container (e.g., a jar) that utilizes a liner formed of
plastisol that expands when cured. The plastisol bead is indicated
to aid in retaining the closure of the container. U.S. Pat. No.
5,873,641 to Spinelli discloses puff ink on a flat, non-woven
textile mat. The puff ink provides graphics and a non-skid surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,088 to Dunlap discloses a sock having puff ink
applied thereon, that provides a non-skid surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention relates in general to a flexible pouch
of the type having two adjacent panels, with each panel comprises a
single layer or a plurality of layers laminated together. An
expandable polymer is positioned between two of the layers,
adjacent the edges.
[0007] The expandable polymer, as contemplated by the present
invention, is a specifically triggered, such as by heat, radio
frequency or the like, meaning that the polymer does not expand on
its own. Preferably, the expandable polymer is a heat-activated
puff ink. One potential form of trigger is the activation of
microspheres in the polymer, which cause the polymer to expand. The
expandable polymer may be applied to the pouch layers as part of
the printing process for the layers.
[0008] The pouch may be formed in any number of configurations. One
possible form includes two adjacent panels and a bottom gusset,
wherein the two panels and the bottom gusset may comprise a
plurality of laminate layers. In this pouch embodiment, the
expandable polymer may be positioned between two of the plurality
of layers adjacent the edges in both side panels, in one of the
side panels and the bottom gusset, or in both side panels and the
bottom gusset. The two side panels, or the one side panel and the
bottom gusset, are heat sealed together along at least one edge. In
the preferred embodiment, the heat sealing activates the expandable
polymer, causing the polymer to expand outwardly along the edge of
the panels and/or gusset. The outwardly expansion of the polymer
forms a bead of tactile friendly material.
[0009] It is contemplated that the expandable polymer may be a
material that does not expand during the heat sealing operation.
The polymer material extrudes outwardly after the heat sealing by
using a specific trigger other than heat, such as by the
application, electron beams or microwaves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] For the purpose of the illustrating the invention there is
shown in the drawings various forms which are presently preferred;
it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to
the precise arrangements and instrumentalities particularly
shown.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a pouch with a bead
formed along the edges by an expanded polymer material.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of the two adjacent
multi-layered laminate panels with expandable polymer positioned
between two of the layers.
[0013] FIG. 3A is a top plan view of two pouch panels after being
heat sealed and prior to the expansion of the polymer.
[0014] FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the pouch in FIG. 3A after the
polymer has expanded, creating a bead along the edges.
[0015] FIG. 4A is an elevation view of a heat sealed pouch prior to
the expansion of the polymer.
[0016] FIG. 4B is an elevation view of the pouch showing the
expanded polymer having created a bead along the edges of the
pouch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference to the drawings, where like numerals identify
like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a pouch in accordance with
the present invention, which is generally identified by the numeral
10. The pouch 10 is formed by the joining a front panel 12 and back
panel 14 along two edge seams 16 and along one bottom edge seam 18.
As illustrated, an expandable polymer 20 has formed a bead 22 along
the joined edges 16, 18 of the pouch. This bead of expanded polymer
22 covers the outer edges of the pouch and provides a relatively
soft edge.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the polymer 20 in its unexpanded state
is positioned along the edges of the pouch panels 12, 14, between
two laminate layers 24, 26. In the preferred embodiment, the
polymer 20 comprises plastisol based, heat-activated puff ink,
which is printed in register with the graphics on one of the panels
during normal printing process (e.g. by a flexographic or gravure
process). Each panel may be formed of a single layer or may be made
from any number of laminate layers 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the
laminate layers 24, 26, 28 may comprise heavy gauge polymers, such
as polyethylene terathale or foils. The polymer 20 during its
expansion is extruded outwardly from between the layers, when the
edges of the pouch are heat sealed by sealing jaws 30. The sealing
jaws 30 are preferably chamfered along the outer edge of the pouch
so as to assist in the extrusion of the polymer 20 in an outward
direction during the expansion.
[0019] FIG. 3A shows a pouch with heat sealed side edges 16 and the
polymer 20 remaining in the unexpanded state between two of the
laminate layers 24, 26, both on the front 12 and back 14 panels.
FIG. 3B shows a pouch with an expanded polymer bead 22 positioned
along the heat sealed edges 32 of the pouch. The expansion of
polymer 20 in this embodiment is not triggered by the heat sealing
process; rather, the expansion is triggered by an alternate means,
such as by electron beam, microwave, etc.
[0020] FIG. 4A shows the pouch in cross section, wherein the front
panel 12 is the heat sealed 34 around three side edges. In this
figure, the polymer 20 remains in the laminate layers after the
heat sealing, since expansion is triggered by something other than
heat. A cross section of the pouch with the polymer in the expanded
condition, triggered by heat, electron beam, microwave, or the
like, is shown in FIG. 4B.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows an alternate pouch form 36 having a front panel
12, a back panel 14 and a bottom gusset 38. The front panel 12 and
back panel 14 are joined along two edge seams 16. The bottom gusset
is joined to the front panel and the back panel along edge seams
40, 42. A bead of expandable polymer 22 is formed along the heat
sealed edges of the pouch 16, 40, 42.
[0022] The expanded polymer as contemplated by the present
invention may define tactile friendly surfaces. The preferred
construction of a puff ink as the expandable polymer creates this
quality. However, other features of the invention will be
understood by those in the art upon review of the present
specification.
[0023] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the
present invention may be practiced in various alternate forms and
configurations. The previously detailed description of the
preferred embodiments are presented for purposes of clarity of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
implied there from.
* * * * *